Tactics available to acquire starting pitching:
Option 1 - try to compete against the Mets, dodgers and Yankees for premium free agent pitching? Good luck with that option!!! Limited competition from other teams, but the teams competing are monsters with deep pockets!
option 2 - trade quality prospects for premium pitching. Great strategy if you have the prospects. Bres-slow hit a home run in 2025 with this strategy. All teams want to compete, but the quality of the prospects decides the success rate!
option 3 - scan the waiver wire as well as take a flyer on rule 5 prospects!! Aka hang’em Chaim’s preferred strategy!!! Limited competition from other teams if you use this strategy.
option 4 - sign guys coming off major injury and hope they can contribute. Again limited competition from other teams if you use this strategy.
option 5 - draft/international signing and develop starting pitching. The preferred method of all teams. Long lead times involved in this strategy. But complete control by each team and only competition is at draft/international signing time.
option 6 - sign any leftover free agents not signed by the Mets, dodgers or Yankees! Serious competition in this strategy and while most pitchers in this category have a low ceiling. Teams hope they sign someone with a high floor!!!! See buehler as an example of why hope is not always a good strategy in golf or in acquiring starting pitchers
this is why we should at the very least call Atlanta about sale’s availability.